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January 2, 2025

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    Discover Japan from an insider's perspective – I bring you travel tips and secret insights from years working in the Japan travel industry.

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    • From crazy Tokyo to this😲

One of the things I love about Japan’s train system is how you can hop on a train in the heart of the city surrounded by skyscrapers, and just an hour later find yourself in small towns in the middle of Japanese nature.

📍 This is Okutama, located west of Tokyo. It’s about 1h30 from Shinjuku Station on the Chūō Line.

The area is known for its beautiful hiking trails with several mountains and mounts popular among locals. But even if you’re not into hiking you can enjoy relaxing walk through the forest, along the river or around the village.

And some cafes and restaurants are hideen gems offering amazing views of the surrounding mountains✌️

#japantravel #tokyo #japantrip #explorejapan #japannature #okutama
    • 📍Location: Utsuwa Omusubi HANARE, Omotesando, Tokyo
-
👩‍💻Booking page: 
https://wabunka-lux.jp/experiences/en_utsuwa-omusubi-kintsugi/?ref=TMGcZ9MIeoK_4R&utm_content=sns-utsuwa-omusubi-kintsugi 
👉Or comment “hanare” and I’ll send you this link via DM
(link in bio as well)
-
📝Info:
This is a fully private workshop (only you) where you’ll learn directly from a skilled Japanese kintsugi artist. You’ll leave with your own piece of Japanese pottery repaired with kintsugi.

The workshop is only available for booking on Wabunka. 

You can choose from different types of pottery, or bring your own for repair. They’ll teach you how to repair it yourself with the traditional kintsugi technique.

Highly recommended if you appreciate Japanese aesthetics and know of wabi-sabi (= finding beauty in imperfection). (And the reviews of other customers for this experience are excellent too, you can see them on the website)

About @wabunka.japan : check them out if you’re looking for authentic, non-touristy things to do in Japan. They partner with top Japanese artisans, artists, and teachers in local venues to provide high-end, private workshops for international tourists. They have so many incredible experiences I want to try them all 😳

#japantravel #kintsugi #explorejapan #tokyo #thingstodoinjapan #explorejapan #visitjapan #japan #wabunka #kintsugiart #kintsugirepair
    • 📍Location: Wada Shouten, Sakai, Osaka

💻Booking page: https://wabunka-lux.jp/experiences/en_wada-shouten-2/?ref=TMGcZ9MIeoK_4R&utm_content=sns-wada-shouten 
👉Or comment “wada” and I’ll send you this link via DM (make sure to follow first so that you can see my DM)
(link in bio as well)

📝Info:
This is a fully private workshop where you’ll learn directly from skilled Japanese craftsmen. An interpreter will be with you to translate everything, and you’ll leave with a personalized knife, engraved with your name.

The workshop is available for booking on Wabunka (@wabunka.japan). Reservations are required so be sure to book in advance. 

You can choose from three types of knives: Santoku, Deba, and Sashimi. They’ll also teach you how to maintain your knife so you can keep it for many years.

Highly recommended if you’re a knife enthusiast. (And the reviews of other customers for this experience are excellent too, you can check them out on the website)

About @wabunka.japan : they offer super authentic experiences in Japan. They partner with top Japanese artisans, artists, and teachers in local venues to provide high-end, private workshops for international tourists. If you’re looking for unique, non-touristy things to do, check out their website — they have so many incredible experiences I want to try them all 😳

(Not a sponsored post but I do share my affiliate link - meaning if you book through my link I’ll get a small percentage as commission (no extra cost for you))

#️⃣
#japantravel #japaneseknife #explorejapan #osaka #thingstodoinjapan #explorejapan #visitjapan #japan #wabunka
    • Aug 3rd Itabashi hanabi taikai, 1h30minutes fireworks show where 13,000 fireworks were launched😳
This is one of the biggest fireworks in Japan. If you come during summer you’ll likely be able to catch at least one fireworks festival as they happen almost every weekend in summer throughout Japan😌
#japantravel #tokyo #fireworks #summerfestival #hanabi #summerinjapan #visittokyo
    • Definitely not a normal restaurant 😳👯‍♀️👯‍♂️
#japantravel #tokyo #shinjuku #kabukicho #visitjapan #robotrestaurant #samurairestaurant
    • Only two weeks per year… floating moments🍃

Hope you have the chance to see it one day 🌸

#japantravel #explorejapan #visitjapan #sakuraseason #cherryblossom #cherryblossomjapan #kanazawa
    • Share with the person you want to try this with! Details below:

This is a private session with master craftsman Mogami-san as your personal teacher. You can book it on Wabunka (link in bio). An interpreter will accompany you, and the class lasts 1h30. For those looking for a deep authentic / off the beaten path experience!

📍Kuramae, Tokyo
@wabunka.japan 

#japantravel #tokyotravel #japan #chopsticks #japanguide #thingstodotokyo #woodwork
    • People are missing out on the BEST season to come to Japan and that’s not Cherry Blossom 🙂‍↔️🧐
#japantravel #lifeinjapan #visitjapan #tokyolife #japantrip
    • Is Ghibli Museum really worth it?

Here are 6 things you need to know before going:

🎫Tickets are really hard to get. Tickets for a given month go on sale at 10 AM on the 10th of the previous month. Ghibli is internationally popular and tickets only cost 1,000yen (around 7USD) so needless to say they sell out really fast.  Even if you log on right at 10 AM on the sale day, you’d be lucky to get one.

📷No photos or filming inside the museum. Now, I was a bit disappointed by this, but ultimately walking through the exhibits without worrying about capturing everything on camera turned out to be (unsurprisingly) relaxing. It also keeps the traffic moving, especially helpful in narrower rooms where someone trying to take the perfect photo could hold up the line.

🌷Don’t expect anything crazy. I’ve noticed some visitors complain that the museum isn’t particularly spectacular, and… they’re right: apart from one or two cool features, there aren’t any jaw-dropping exhibits. But I’d say, this is exactly the Ghibli spirit. I wouldn’t want a Spirited Away roller coaster - the films evoke calm, relaxation, and some sort of nostalgia, and the museum captures this perfectly.

🏡The museum basically one large 3-floor high-ceiling space with lots of stairs, bridges, small doors, and narrow passages leading to the different exhibits. Really fun to explore.

✌️The attention to every little detail is amazing. From door handles to toilets, windows, and stairs—everything in the museum is designed with a Ghibli style, which is really cool. You’ll notice details everywhere.

🛍️The souvenir shop is a bit of a letdown. You’ll find better Ghibli merchandise in various shops across Tokyo or even in the famous Don Quijote stores.

#japantravel #ghiblimuseum #japantraveltips #visittokyo

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  • From crazy Tokyo to this😲

One of the things I love about Japan’s train system is how you can hop on a train in the heart of the city surrounded by skyscrapers, and just an hour later find yourself in small towns in the middle of Japanese nature.

📍 This is Okutama, located west of Tokyo. It’s about 1h30 from Shinjuku Station on the Chūō Line.

The area is known for its beautiful hiking trails with several mountains and mounts popular among locals. But even if you’re not into hiking you can enjoy relaxing walk through the forest, along the river or around the village.

And some cafes and restaurants are hideen gems offering amazing views of the surrounding mountains✌️

#japantravel #tokyo #japantrip #explorejapan #japannature #okutama
  • 📍Location: Utsuwa Omusubi HANARE, Omotesando, Tokyo
-
👩‍💻Booking page: 
https://wabunka-lux.jp/experiences/en_utsuwa-omusubi-kintsugi/?ref=TMGcZ9MIeoK_4R&utm_content=sns-utsuwa-omusubi-kintsugi 
👉Or comment “hanare” and I’ll send you this link via DM
(link in bio as well)
-
📝Info:
This is a fully private workshop (only you) where you’ll learn directly from a skilled Japanese kintsugi artist. You’ll leave with your own piece of Japanese pottery repaired with kintsugi.

The workshop is only available for booking on Wabunka. 

You can choose from different types of pottery, or bring your own for repair. They’ll teach you how to repair it yourself with the traditional kintsugi technique.

Highly recommended if you appreciate Japanese aesthetics and know of wabi-sabi (= finding beauty in imperfection). (And the reviews of other customers for this experience are excellent too, you can see them on the website)

About @wabunka.japan : check them out if you’re looking for authentic, non-touristy things to do in Japan. They partner with top Japanese artisans, artists, and teachers in local venues to provide high-end, private workshops for international tourists. They have so many incredible experiences I want to try them all 😳

#japantravel #kintsugi #explorejapan #tokyo #thingstodoinjapan #explorejapan #visitjapan #japan #wabunka #kintsugiart #kintsugirepair
  • 📍Location: Wada Shouten, Sakai, Osaka

💻Booking page: https://wabunka-lux.jp/experiences/en_wada-shouten-2/?ref=TMGcZ9MIeoK_4R&utm_content=sns-wada-shouten 
👉Or comment “wada” and I’ll send you this link via DM (make sure to follow first so that you can see my DM)
(link in bio as well)

📝Info:
This is a fully private workshop where you’ll learn directly from skilled Japanese craftsmen. An interpreter will be with you to translate everything, and you’ll leave with a personalized knife, engraved with your name.

The workshop is available for booking on Wabunka (@wabunka.japan). Reservations are required so be sure to book in advance. 

You can choose from three types of knives: Santoku, Deba, and Sashimi. They’ll also teach you how to maintain your knife so you can keep it for many years.

Highly recommended if you’re a knife enthusiast. (And the reviews of other customers for this experience are excellent too, you can check them out on the website)

About @wabunka.japan : they offer super authentic experiences in Japan. They partner with top Japanese artisans, artists, and teachers in local venues to provide high-end, private workshops for international tourists. If you’re looking for unique, non-touristy things to do, check out their website — they have so many incredible experiences I want to try them all 😳

(Not a sponsored post but I do share my affiliate link - meaning if you book through my link I’ll get a small percentage as commission (no extra cost for you))

#️⃣
#japantravel #japaneseknife #explorejapan #osaka #thingstodoinjapan #explorejapan #visitjapan #japan #wabunka
  • Aug 3rd Itabashi hanabi taikai, 1h30minutes fireworks show where 13,000 fireworks were launched😳
This is one of the biggest fireworks in Japan. If you come during summer you’ll likely be able to catch at least one fireworks festival as they happen almost every weekend in summer throughout Japan😌
#japantravel #tokyo #fireworks #summerfestival #hanabi #summerinjapan #visittokyo
  • Definitely not a normal restaurant 😳👯‍♀️👯‍♂️
#japantravel #tokyo #shinjuku #kabukicho #visitjapan #robotrestaurant #samurairestaurant
  • Only two weeks per year… floating moments🍃

Hope you have the chance to see it one day 🌸

#japantravel #explorejapan #visitjapan #sakuraseason #cherryblossom #cherryblossomjapan #kanazawa
  • Share with the person you want to try this with! Details below:

This is a private session with master craftsman Mogami-san as your personal teacher. You can book it on Wabunka (link in bio). An interpreter will accompany you, and the class lasts 1h30. For those looking for a deep authentic / off the beaten path experience!

📍Kuramae, Tokyo
@wabunka.japan 

#japantravel #tokyotravel #japan #chopsticks #japanguide #thingstodotokyo #woodwork

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  • About
    About Me

    Discover Japan from an insider's perspective – I bring you travel tips and secret insights from years working in the Japan travel industry.

    Read More
    Instagram Pinterest TikTok
  • Latest Posts
    • Where to See Geisha in Kyoto: Complete Guide with Links

      April 21, 2025
    • Best Ryokan in Miyajima (2025): Affordable to Luxury Picks

      April 19, 2025
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